WO2019053170A1

WO2019053170A1 - Interactionless user identification in a remote control

Info

Publication number: WO2019053170A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/074828
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ferdinand Maier
Original assignee: Fm Marketing Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-09-15
Filing date: 2018-09-13
Publication date: 2019-03-21
Also published as: DE102017121456A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote control (1), comprising: - a housing (2, 3) which delimits an inner chamber with respect to an outer chamber and has a top shell (2), on which operating elements (5, 8 to 12), directed to the outer chamber, for entering control information for a multimedia device are arranged, and has a bottom shell (3) opposite the top shell (2); - an evaluation electronics unit (31), arranged in the inner chamber of the housing (2, 3), for detecting control information entered via the operating elements (5, 8 to 12) and for controlling the multimedia device on the basis of the entered control information; and - a capacitor part (42) having a surface capacitance element (39) arranged on the bottom shell (3) of the housing (2, 3) and having a mutual capacitance element (40), dielectrically separated from the surface capacitance element (39), wherein the evaluation electronics unit (31) is designed to output an identification signal (62) identifying a user contacting the housing (2, 3) according to a capacitance between that of the surface capacitance element (39) and the mutual capacitance element (40).

Description

INTERACTION FREE USER IDENTIFICATION FOR REMOTE CONTROL

description

The present invention relates to a remote control according to claim 1 and a circuit for the remote control according to claim 6.

From DE 10 2006 042 014 AI a remote control is known with which users can be identified.

It is an object of the invention to identify the user

simplify. The object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a remote control comprises a housing with an upper shell delimiting an interior against an exterior space, on the exterior space directed control elements for inputting control information for a multimedia device

are arranged and one of the upper shell opposite

Lower shell; a arranged in the interior of the housing

Evaluation electronics for the control information input via the controls and for controlling the multimedia device based on the input control information and a

Condenser part with a on the lower shell of the housing - preferably directed to the outside - arranged

Area capacitance element and having a dielectric of Area capacitance element separate Gegenkapazitätselement, wherein the evaluation is set up, a identification of a housing-contacting user identification signal in response to a capacitance between the surface capacitance element and the

Output countercapacity element.

The specified remote control is based on the consideration that the detection of users on previous remote controls always require interaction with the user. Even when the user is recognized by his fingerprints, the user has to place the finger whose fingerprint is deposited in a predetermined position on the remote control so that the user can be recognized.

Here, the specified remote control starts with the consideration that remotes usually come from a very small circle

Persons are used. Furthermore, the specified

Remote control based on the consideration that change the electrical properties of the capacitor part by human contact. In the specified remote control, these two considerations are exploited in that the area capacitance element is placed in an area where the user uses the

Area capacity element in the natural grip of the remote control in his hand puts. As the user sees the top panel when operating the remote control, the bottom shell is usually in his hand. For this reason, the capacitance electrode is to be arranged on the lower shell of the remote control, so that the user recognition can be carried out automatically when gripping the remote control without the user still having to actively trigger the recognition. In a further development of the specified remote control, the surface capacitance element extends on the lower shell of the housing over an area of at least 50 cm ² . A minimum size for the area capacity element ensures that the

User recognition, for example, can extend to a typical gripping position of the hand. The counter capacitance element can likewise be arranged both on the housing and on the evaluation electronics. It can be placed anywhere on the housing, for example at the same location as the area capacitance element, but electrically separated by the material of the lower shell, next to it

Area capacitance element in an analogous form to

Area capacity element or on the upper shell.

In a further development of the specified remote control, a width of the surface capacitance element transversely to the longitudinal axis changes along a longitudinal axis about which the housing can be gripped around with the hand of a user. In this way, the sensitivity in the user identification in the longitudinal direction is increased.

In a further development of the specified remote control, the area capacitance element is an uninterruptible electrode. In this way, the area capacity element acts next to it

actual function as a measuring recording element in the

User recognition also as an electrical screen to protect against electromagnetic interference, so that measurements can be carried out more robustly during user acquisition. In addition, a significantly lower scanning effort is necessary in the user detection compared to an embodiment in which the surface capacitance element is formed from a plurality of electrodes, which then all need to be scanned separately. Finally, one leaves

A circuit for outputting an identification signal in response to a periodic input voltage in one of the specified remote controls comprises the capacitor part and an input resistor connected in series with the capacitor part, an input side to the Applying the periodic input voltage to the series circuit of the capacitor part and the input resistor, a rectifier for outputting a rectified capacitor voltage dropping across the capacitor as the magnitude of the identification signal, and a

Voltage detecting section for outputting one over the

Input resistance decreasing voltage as the phase of the

Identification signal.

With the specified circuit, the aforementioned remote control is particularly easy to implement. In a further development of the specified circuit is the

Voltage detecting portion of an XOR gate, which outputs from the input side in the case of two different electrical potentials before and after the input resistance, a first voltage level, which differs from a voltage level, when the electrical potentials are equal before and after the input resistance. This is the phase of the identification signal

immediate signal value.

The periodic input voltage can be a variable frequency

between 10 kHz and 2 MHz, in particular between 50 kHz and 1 MHz. In this area, measurements show that most of the information that can be used to detect a user. The above-described characteristics, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become more apparent in connection with the following description of the embodiments which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. L is a remote control in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows the remote control from FIG. 1 in a plan view; FIG. FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through the remote control of FIG. 1 along the line AA 'of FIG. 2; FIG. FIG. 4 shows the remote control of FIG. 1 in a view of its bottom in a first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the remote control of FIG. 1 in a view of its bottom in a second embodiment

6 shows the remote control of FIG. 1 in a view of its bottom in a third embodiment

7 shows the remote control of Fig. 1 in a view of its bottom in a fourth embodiment

8 is a structural diagram of a circuit in the remote control of Fig. 1,

Fig. 9 shows an example of a part of the circuit of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a detection circuit in the circuit of Fig. 8. In the figures, the same technical elements are the same

Numeral provided and described only once. The figures are purely schematic and above all not the actual

geometric relationships again. Reference is made to Fig. 1, which shows a remote control 1 in a perspective view.

The remote control 1 comprises a housing, which is composed of an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3, and a first

Keypad 4 with a plurality of keys 5 and a second keypad 6 with a plurality of keys 5. Of the keys 5 in the keypads 4, 6 are not provided in the figures for clarity, all provided with a reference numeral. Both keypads 4, 6 are separated by a control pad 7 from each other, the first key 8, a second key 9, a third key 10th and a fourth key 11. The four keys are provided for moving a control element on a multimedia device not shown further and therefore arranged circumferentially in the four possible directions of movement and at a distance of 90 ° to a confirmation button 12.

On the remote control 1, further display means 13, such as

For example, small lights, be present, with one

User of the remote control 1 a functional state of the remote control 1 can be displayed.

Hereinafter, the invention is based on an area 14 of

Remote control 1 explained in more detail, in which the control pad 7 is located. However, this is not intended to be limiting, because in principle the thoughts outlined below can also be applied to any key 5 in the keypads 4, 6.

Hereinafter, the internal structure of the remote control 1 in this area 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in more detail.

For connecting the lower shell 3 to the upper shell 2, the lower shell 3 have in the area 14 pins 15 and the upper shell 2

Sleeves 16, which may be executed in the manner known for example from EP 2 620 044 AI and connected to each other. Alternatively or additionally, the lower shell 3 and the upper shell 2 could also be glued, screwed or otherwise permanently fixed against each other for connection.

The upper shell 2 has to guide the control cross 7 a

Collar 17, in which the control pad 7 in and against a

Printing direction 18 of the keys 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 can be moved along guided. On the collar 17 are circumferentially arranged in the figures not visible recesses, while seen circumferentially and in the direction of pressure 18 below the control pad 7 a plurality of not visible in the figures guide lugs 20 are arranged, which protrude radially from the control pad 7. The recesses and the Guide tabs are arranged such that the control pad 7 can be inserted into the collar 17 only in certain rotational positions. To only a single rotational position for the control pad 7 in the collar 17th

to allow, the recesses and guide lugs should have mutually different circumferential distances.

At the control pad 7 are seen in the pressure direction 18 below the first button 8 in the figures not to be seen first donor magnet, below the second button 9, a second donor magnet 24, below the third button 10 in the figures not to be seen third

Encoder magnet and below the fourth button 11 a fourth

Encoder magnet 26 is arranged. These donor magnets 24, 26 are in accordance with the pressure of the keys 8 to 11 on the control pad 7 in the printing direction 18 moves accordingly. Furthermore, in the lower shell 3, a stationary in the figures not to be seen first armature magnet, a second

Anchor magnet 28, a third in the figures not to be seen

Anchor magnet and a fourth armature magnet 30 held. The

Armature magnets 28, 30 are arranged such that after insertion of the control cross 7 in the collar 17 and the assembly of the upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3, the first armature magnet is below the first encoder magnet and is covered by this, the second armature magnet 28 below the second Encoder magnet 24 is located and is covered by this, the third armature magnet is below the third encoder magnet and is covered by this and the fourth armature magnet 28 is below the fourth encoder magnet 26 and is covered by this.

When viewed in the printing direction 18 between the encoder magnets 24, 26 and the armature magnets 28, 30 is in assembling the

Upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3, a printed circuit board 31 is received, are formed on the immersion openings 32 for the encoder magnets 24, 26. Further, on the circuit board 31 also in the figures not visible breakthroughs for the pins 15 and sleeves 16 for

Connection of the housing shells 2, 3 be present. On the printed circuit board 31 are arranged spaced from the immersion openings 32 at its seen in the printing direction 18 lower shell sensor 35, the magnetic field of the encoder magnets 24, 26 and anchor magnets 28, 30 detect - and with a not visible in the figures key position signal to a Forward evaluation circuit on the circuit board 31. The transducers 35 may operate on any physical principles, such as magnetoresistive, Hall effect, magnetostrictive or oscillatory. No special physical measuring principle is necessary.

Finally, a further printed circuit board 37 is held in the middle of the control pad via snap hooks 36, on which an electronic

Button signal generating circuit for detecting an operation of the confirmation key 12 is formed. About not visible wires, the detected operation is passed to the circuit board 31. For the wires and the snap hooks 36 further breakthroughs are formed in the circuit board 31, which are not provided in Fig. 3 for the sake of clarity with a reference numeral. To the electric

Power supply of the electronic circuit are in the

Remote control 2 held in a battery compartment batteries, which is covered by a battery compartment cover 38.

Hereinafter, the detection of the key depression of one of the keys 8 to 11 on the control pad 7 with the key signal generating circuit and the sensors 35 will be explained in more detail.

The encoder magnets 24, 26 and the armature magnets 28, 30 in the

Remote control 1 are arranged with a same magnetic pole facing each other in the remote control 1. In this way, the encoder magnets 24, 26 repelled by the armature magnets 28, 30.

However, a user depresses one of the keys 8 to 11 on the control pad 7 and thus the corresponding encoder magnet 24, 26 against the seen in the printing direction 18 underlying

Armature magnet 28, 30, the magnetic field lines bundled radially outward, passed through the sensor 35. The closer a sensor magnet 24, 26 comes to its armature magnet 28, 30, the more stronger is the bundling of the field lines by the sensor 35. The electronic key signal generating circuit can thus output the above-mentioned key position signal based on the sensor 35 in response to the keystroke. However, a deeper understanding of the generation of the key position signal is not necessary for understanding the embodiment, which is why it should be dispensed with further explanations.

The remote control 1 is designed to be a user who uses the

Remote control 1 holds in the hand, can be automatically identified without further interaction such as a pin input or a deliberate placing a finger on a fingerprint scanner.

For this purpose, the remote control 1 at the underside of the lower shell 3 viewed in the pressure direction 18 has a surface capacitance element 39 which may optionally be covered with an insulating layer (not shown) in order to protect the surface capacitance element 39 from corrosion or other environmental influences. The

Surface capacitance element 39 is a single or multi-layer electrically conductive formed on the underside of the lower shell 3 layer, for example, by adhering a thin metal foil or by a suitable coating method, such as a

Gas phase deposition can be applied. the

Area capacitance element 39 is associated with a counter capacitance element 40 on the circuit board 31, which together with the

Surface capacitance element 39 dielectrically separated by the

Lower shell 3 form a capacitor part 42, which is indicated in Figures 8 and 9. The capacitor part 42 has dependencies on its geometric structure and the electrical material properties of the two

Capacitance elements 39, 40 a basic capacity. In dependence, the user takes the remote control 1 in the hand and puts the

Lower shell 3 in his palm, so covered one of the

Area capacity element 42 in a very characteristic manner, which depends on the one hand on the size of his hand, on the other hand also how the user holds the remote control in his hand. This characteristic change in capacity is used as the basis for recognizing the user. This is in addition to the above-mentioned electronic

Button signal generating circuit arranged a further electronic circuit on the circuit board 31 for user identification. The

Electronic user recognition circuitry is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and will be described in detail later.

Before that, it should be pointed to some possible embodiments of the

Area capacity element 39 will be received.

First, the surface capacitance element 39 may be designed so that it covers the lower shell 3 of the remote control 1 as large as possible. For this purpose, the surface capacitance element 39 has a rectangular basic shape which, when placed on the lower shell 3 of the

Remote control 1 adapts to the surface structure of the remote control 1. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 4.

The advantage of the largest possible training of the

Area capacity element 39 on the lower shell 3 of

Remote control 1 is that here is a good shielding of the circuit board against disturbing signals caused by the

Area capacitance element 39 as captured by an antenna. However, the large-scale training of the

Flächenkapazitätselementes 39 also has a high basic capacity, depending on the individual electrical properties of the user to be recognized with a comparatively low

Sensitivity changes. Therefore, for high sensitivity, the electrodes should only be located where touches occur. An optimal middle ground is therefore, not only that

Area capacitance element 39 but also the

Counter capacitance element 40 on the lower shell 3 form flat, as it is indicated in Fig. 7 to be described later. In this way, on the one hand, the capacitive couplings between the two Capacitance elements 39, 40 minimized and still a high

Shielding effect achieved against electromagnetic interference.

Alternatively, the counter capacitance element 40 could also be referred to as

Point electrode are performed so that the effective area between the two capacitance elements is minimized.

An alternative embodiment of the surface capacitance element 39 is shown in FIG. In this version, that changes

Area capacity element 39 transverse to a longitudinal direction 44 of the

Remote control 1. This is shown in Fig. 5 by a trapezoidal

Achieved embodiment of the surface capacitance element 39, which then adapts when placed on the lower shell 3 of the remote control 1 according to the surface structure. Alternatively, that could

Surface capacitance element 39 may also be triangular, dragon-triangle-shaped, cross-shaped or V-shaped to realize the change transverse to a longitudinal direction 44 of the remote control 1.

By changing the surface capacitance element 39 transversely to the longitudinal direction 44 of the remote control 1, a further increase in the sensitivity of the capacitance of the capacitor part 42 is achieved because the capacitance varies more depending on the position of the user's hand on the lower shell 3 in the longitudinal direction 44. Another alternative embodiment of the surface capacitance element 39 is shown in FIG. In this version that is

Surface capacitance element 39 composed of a plurality of electrode elements 39 ^λ , which are all separated from each other dielectrically. In this way, the user's hand when holding the remote control could be measured individually, and so for example, a characteristic position of the hand when holding the remote control 1 in the recognition of the user into account. The shapes of the surface capacitance element 39 shown in FIG. 6 can be selected analogously to those discussed in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. In Fig. 7, the aforementioned embodiment is shown in which the

Counter capacitance element 40 is also applied to the lower shell 3 with and in which show minimum capacitive couplings between the capacitance elements 39, 40. In addition to the already mentioned advantages with regard to a high shielding effect against interference signals, the embodiment according to FIG. 7 has the further advantage that the user can cover both capacitance elements 39, 40 during gripping, because in this case environmental influences are strongly damped.

In all embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 7, the electrodes 39, 40 mounted on the lower shell 3 may be covered with the above-mentioned insulating layer. Alternatively, the electrodes 39, 40 mounted on the lower shell 3 can also be arranged on a side of the lower shell 3 directed into the interior of the housing. In this way, the insulating layer could be dispensed with.

The capacitance of the capacitor part 42 can basically be evaluated as desired and in a certain way also depends on the structure of the surface capacitance element 39. For example, the

Capacitance of the capacitor portion 42 with the area capacity element 39 of Fig. 6 in a matrix of many small subcapacities disassemble, the capacitance values of the matrix then directly detected and

could be evaluated. Such a direct detection of

Capacitance values for the area capacitance elements 39 of FIGS. 4 and 5 might be due to too low a sensitivity

not suitable.

Hereinafter, however, an embodiment of the above-mentioned user recognition circuit will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, with which the evaluation of the capacitance of the capacitor part 42 independently for all forms of the surface capacitance element 39 with a

sufficient sensitivity can be realized. These

User recognition circuit is in the figures with the

Reference numeral 46 and is generally described in Fig. 8 first. The user detection circuit 46 includes an RC low-pass 47 having an input resist 48 and the capacitor portion 42 as grounding capacitance. The basic idea of the user recognition circuit 46 is to use the transmission behavior of the RC low-pass filter 47 and to decide from its output signal both in magnitude and in phase with respect to the input signal to the user holding the remote control in his hand. For this purpose, an input voltage 49 with a variable frequency is applied to the RC low-pass 47 of the user detection circuit 46. The

Input voltage 49, for example, with a

Frequency generator 50 are generated. In the RC low pass 47, the input voltage divides 49 according to the Kirchhoff rules on the

Input resistance 48 and on the capacitor part 42 on. The

Output voltage 52 of the RC low-pass filter 47 drops on the capacitor part 42. However, in the present embodiment, the am

Input resistance 48 falling internal voltage 54 with

considered.

From the magnitude of the internal voltage 54 can be directly determine the phase difference of the transmission behavior of the RC low-pass filter 47, because the internal voltage 54, the potential difference between the input voltage 49 to ground and the

Output voltage 52 to ground represents. In the present embodiment, the internal voltage 54 is rectified with a rectifier 56 and output as a phase voltage 58.

Analogously, the output voltage 52 is rectified by a rectifier 56 and output as the magnitude voltage 60.

Since the input voltage 49 is generated at a variable frequency, the user holding the remote control 1 has a characteristic frequency spectrum based on which the user can be recognized. This user identification can, for example, in a corresponding detection circuit 61 take place, the output signal of which may be a corresponding identification signal 62 identifying the user.

In Fig. 9 is a concrete example of a part of

User detection circuit 46 is shown.

In this example, the internal voltage rectifier 56 is implemented as an XOR gate 64, which is not further referenced

Output voltage outputs when the internal voltage 46 in their amount (regardless of their sign) exceeds a predetermined threshold. This output voltage from the XOR gate 64 is connected to a low-pass filter 66, here in the form of an RC element, smoothed to the phase voltage 58. The rectifier 56 for the magnitude voltage 60 is implemented with two diodes 68, which are arranged as in a Greinacher circuit. The two diodes 68 rectify the output voltage 52 from the RC low-pass filter 47, while an adjoining low-pass filter 66 smoothes this rectified output voltage 52 to the magnitude voltage 60.

Referring to Fig. 10, an example of the recognition of the user in the detection circuit 61 based on the phase voltage 58 and the magnitude voltage 60 will be described.

First, the two voltages 58, 60 in one

Conversion section 70 to a vector 72 converted. The further function of the detection circuit 61 depends on the position of a learning switch 74. In a first position 76, which is shown by a solid line in FIG. 10, the detection circuit 61 is in a state capable of recognizing a user. In a second position 78, in Fig. 10 with a dashed line

is shown, the detection circuit 61 is in a state in which it can learn a new user. First, the function of the detection circuit 61 in the second position 78 of the learning switch 74 will be explained. A user to be recognized later by the detection circuit 61 keeps the remote control 1 in this state in the hand. The

Detection circuit 61 receives the spectral data of the user in the form of the phase voltage 58 and the magnitude voltage 60, forms the vector 72 from this and stores it in a memory 80.

If the switch is in the first position 76, the vector 72 is not stored in the memory 80, but output to a comparator 82. This comparator 82 compares vector 72 with stored vectors 84 from memory 80 and outputs a user identifying identification signal 62 should a corresponding stored vector be present in memory 80 for that user.

As comparison element 82 for the comparison of the vector 72 with the

stored vectors 84, all techniques are considered which are suitable similarities between the vector 72 and the

stored vectors 84 to determine.

Claims

claims

1. Remote control (1) comprising:

a delimiting an interior against an exterior space

Housing (2, 3) with an upper shell (2), on the outer space directed control elements (5, 8 to 12) for the input of

Control information for a multimedia device are arranged and with one of the upper shell (2) opposite lower shell (3);

one in the interior of the housing (2, 3) arranged

Evaluation electronics (31) for the control information input via the operating elements (5, 8 to 12) and for controlling the multimedia device based on the entered control information; and

a capacitor part (42) having a surface capacitance element (39) arranged on the lower shell (3) of the housing (2, 3) and having a dielectric element separated from the surface capacitance element (39)

Counter capacitance element (40), wherein the evaluation electronics (31) is set up, a identification signal (62) identifying the user touching the housing (2, 3) as a function of a

Capacity between the surface capacitance element (39) and the counter capacitance element (40) output.

2. Remote control (1) according to claim 1, wherein the

Surface capacitance element (39) on the lower shell (3) of the housing (2, 3) over an area of at least 50 cm ² extends.

3. Remote control (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the

Counter capacitance element (40) on the evaluation electronics (31)

is arranged.

4. Remote control (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein along a longitudinal axis (44) around which the housing (2, 3) around a hand of a user is embraced, seen, a width of the surface capacitance element (39) transversely to Longitudinal axis (44) changed.

5. Remote control (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface capacitance element (39) is an uninterruptible electrode.

6. Remote control (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface capacitance element (39) is delimited by an insulating layer against direct contact by users.

A circuit (46) for outputting an identification signal (62) in response to a periodic input voltage (49)

A remote control (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the condenser part (42) and one in series with

Capacitor part (42) switched input resistor (48),

an input page for applying the periodic

Input voltage (49) to the series circuit of the

Capacitor part (42) and the input resistor (48),

a rectifier (56) for outputting a rectified am

Capacitor (42) sloping capacitor voltage (60) as the amount of

Identification signal (62), and

a voltage detecting section for outputting a voltage (58) dropped across the input resistor (48) as the phase of the voltage

Identification signal (62).

8. The circuit (46) of claim 7, wherein the

Voltage sensing section is an XOR gate (64) which, from the input side, outputs a first voltage level different from a voltage level in the case of two different electrical potentials before and after the input resistor (48)

differs when the electrical potentials before and after the

Input resistance (48) are the same.

The circuit (46) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the periodic input voltage (48) has a variable frequency between 10 kHz and 2 MHz.

10. Remote control (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a circuit (46) according to one of claims 7 to 9.